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File: 970101_sep96_decls19_0006.txt
Subject: COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION
Unit: OTSG
Parent Organization: HSC
Box ID: BX003205
Folder Title: USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 13
Complete evaluation of the possible impact of the ICD 1536 cream residues on personal equipment
decontamination would take several months of experimentation at Dugway Proving Ground. Testing Is
possible at ambient as well as reduced and elevated temperatures and normally Includes three
representative agents-. TGD, HD, and V)C- Not all need be done at all temperatures, r4asulting In some
economies, but testing costs might still exceed $100K Results might be more widely scattered for the
M291 operations since the physical removal mechanism may be strongly Impacted by the presence of
the ICD 1536 cream residues, Increasing dependence of the results on operator. Should that or-cur -
addhlonal testing will be Teq&.reci to achieve the same confidence in the final conclusions.
Much less detailed experimentation would be required to determine whether or not the ICD 1536
cream residues will present a fire hazard 9 contacted by dry STB. Once the actual composition of the
formulation Is known h would be possible to determine fairly quickly what levels of resid;ja might be
expected on various surfaces. Unless those levels are unexpectedly high, however, h does not seem
worthwhile to examine whether or not DS2 reactions would be Impacted. Nuclear magnetic resonance
experiments would rapidly validate whether or not the DS2 or STS chemistry would react with the [CD
1536 cream components, and probably lden@@ the products. That would eliminate speculation about
Interferences in that area for moderate cost.
4. INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION
,A- Interfaces.
evices which
protect the head and respiratory track of the U.S. Soldiers. The topical skin protectanl ICD 1536 cream
Is being proposed for use as an added level of protection to the skin against HD. The application of the
ICD 1536 cream to the face and neck of soldiers just prior to donning their protective suits places ft In
contact with the most cr'rtical area of mask fit, the man-mask Interface. The ability of the mask to sea]
against the face of the wearer Is the single hardest mask design feature. The primary concern Is,
therefore, the effect that the ICD 1536 cream has on this Interface.
Several test have been conducted on the effect various creams, gels, lotions and paints have on
the protection afforded by a mask system. While no discemable degradation was associated with any of
the materlajs tested, evaluation of the ICD 1536 cream was needed to Insure against any adverse affects
on protection. An unexpected result of one of the previous evaluations was an adverse material reaction
with one of the gels tested. To Insure that no adverse material reaction between ICD 1536 and the
various mask materials work must be conducted to e&uate any potential change in physt@ properties
caused by exposure to the ICO 1536 cream. Finally. one aspee. of the use of creams by soldiers In the
field Is the effect that dust, dirt, sand and high temperature W.11 have on the seal of the mask. The
potential for dust. dirt and sand to adhere to the [CD 1536 cream and Interfere with the mask seal does
exist and must be evaluated. Previous work on creams stopped short of evaluating this poteralai
O@oblem so no reliable estimate of Rs effect can be made.
to Date.
Individual Protection Dtvision's Initial effons focused on the effect the ICD 1536 cream would
have on the seal of the mask. Two mask systems, the Ml 7 and M40, were selected for the evaluation.
These two systems were chosen because they are representative of the mask that the U.S. Forces will
be using In a chemical conflict. The M43 mask which will also be extensively used In a chemical conflict
was not tested because Its protective capabilities are provided primarily through a motor/blower system
and would not be affected by the ICD 1536 cream. A protocol %%-as written and approved to conduct
Protection factor (P@ evaluations an @iftary volunteers. Twenty-two subjects were were tested using the
abc.vep.olocolo,.i25Aug9O. Eachsub,,ectworeboththeMl7andM40masksflrstwhhouttheiCD
1536 cream and then with the ICD 1536 cream. Testing was conducted according to the test
procedures presented in Appendix 2.
5
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Document 12 f:/Week-36/BX003205/USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT/cover sheet for document transmission:12249609312320
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 24-DEC-1996